Good morning, TexMessagers! Will the House support immigration reform?

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Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands said immigration reform will need more work on border security, employment verification, and a focus on economic benefits of immigrants.

“Among Republicans, is that the proposal on border security appears to be awfully slow in implementing the secure border,” Brady said in an interview. “And the E-Verify system is slow as well—implemented over a decade.”

Brady said that he is not supporting the pathway to citizenship and wants the focus to be more on visas for immigrants. However, he said there is room for common ground.

“The consensus is that high-skilled workers benefit not only our economy, they help raise wages for native Americans, native workers as well,” Brady said.

On low-skilled immigrant workers, such as house workers, construction, and agriculture, Brady said there is more disagreement.

Brady argued high-skilled immigrants could fill positions back in his district. Brady said in the Houston area, he has heard from technology companies that they are short hundreds of workers and unable to find them.

Earlier that day, Brady chaired a Joint Economic Committee hearing on immigration’s economic impact. Brady said during the hearing that immigrants can play a role in replenishing the workforce, compensating for America’s aging demographics.

Madeline Zavodny, an economics scholar at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute told the committee that high-skill immigrants contribute to the economy. Zavodny spoke about the widespread benefits of immigrants.

“Economic forces should play a greater role in immigration policy,” Zavodny said at the Wednesday hearing. “Doing so improves the living standards of Americans and reduces any adverse effects of immigration. It helps reduce the deficit and bolster Social Security.”

A second witness pushed back somewhat on the idea of immigration’s economic benefits. Steven Camarota from the Center for Immigration Studies told the committee that the import of low-skilled immigrants has contributed to a depression in wages for low-skilled American workers, and is unwise to continue during a period of high unemployment.

“Is it fair to reduce the wages of the young and less-educated who face the most competition, while more educated and affluent Americans can see their wages and income increase?” Camarota asked the committee.

The immigration debate has seen strange bedfellows on Capitol Hill, with conservative Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform telling the committee on Tuesday that he supported the immigration reform proposal. However, earlier in the week, DC-based conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation released a study slamming the proposal, saying it would increase government spending.

Though Brady said he opposed some measures in the current proposal by the Senate, he was happy with the tenor of the conversation on reform. Brady said there is already more progress now than the last immigration reform proposals, when George W. Bush backed measures in 2007.

“I think there’s a recognition that immigrants deserve our respect, and this discussion be conducted with dignity,” Brady said after the hearing. “But we have to get it right. It’s not enough to do a form, just to check the box.”

“I’m amazed how many Americans want to give away their children’s future and birth right. 11 Million, if the Gov says that, Double it. 22 million. I bet you it’ll cost the Tax Payer at least a trillion dollars once this Amnesty is in full force.”